LAGOS, Nigeria

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries across the globe, Nigeria – Africa’s largest economy – is rapidly embracing this technological wave.

While AI tools are not fully replacing human work, they are increasingly being used to streamline processes, simplify tasks, and tackle challenges like misinformation and data overload.

In Nigeria, AI is now being used by a growing number of media organizations to combat disinformation, especially on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, where content often spreads unchecked.

The need for effective tools has become more pressing in a digital ecosystem where, according to a study by MIT scholars, false information spreads up to six times faster than factual news on platforms such as X.

To address this growing menace, West African fact-checking initiative Dubawa, led by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), launched an AI-powered chatbot in May 2024 to help users verify claims.

Operating on WhatsApp, the chatbot can analyze claims submitted by users, cross-check them using real-time data, and provide links to further information.

“The tool uses real-time internet data to give accurate and timely responses to claims or questions,” said Monsur Hussain, head of innovation at CJID.

Temilade Onilede, Dubawa’s project manager, added that the chatbot is particularly useful on closed messaging platforms.

“Misinformation is especially rampant on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, where it’s hard to monitor what’s being shared. But with the Dubawa chatbot, people can access easy and accurate information by leveraging the power and social good of AI,” she said.

“Not everyone prefers visiting a website. With this tool on WhatsApp, they can get their content verified anytime.”

Fact-checking gets a tech upgrade

Beyond Dubawa, other Nigerian organizations are also harnessing AI to improve fact-checking and data journalism.

FactCheckAfrica, for instance, developed an AI-powered tool called MyAIFactChecker in 2024, which allows users to verify the accuracy of news articles, social media posts, and online content.

The tool has been particularly helpful for journalists like Toheeb Babalola. “I once asked the tool to find data on out-of-school children in Nigeria, and it sourced the information directly from the World Bank and the United Nations,” he said.

However, Babalola suggested the tool could have an even broader reach if integrated with platforms like WhatsApp, similar to Dubawa’s chatbot.

Another prominent player is Dataphyte, a media and research organization that launched its open-source AI tool, Nubia, in 2022.

Nubia assists journalists by analyzing large datasets and turning them into news drafts that can then be refined by human editors.

“You only need to provide our AI tool with raw data, and it generates a ‘first draft’ that human editors can fine-tune,” Ibilolia Akahome, programs and business development manager at Dataphyte, told Anadolu.

In November 2023, Dataphyte put Nubia to the test during a hackathon, where journalists, researchers, and developers were invited to experiment with the tool. Since then, its adoption has expanded to university classrooms, with academic staff being trained to incorporate AI into their teaching and research.

Jamiu Akinbobola, a journalist who has used Nubia, praised its ability to save time. “We input raw data from Microsoft Excel, and it was converted into a news story. All I had to do was include interviews and human-interest elements,” he said. “AI doesn’t provide emotional or human-centric content, so it’s important to add that layer for accuracy and appeal.”

While there’s currently no law specifically regulating artificial intelligence in Nigeria, the government is taking steps to create a framework for its development.

In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy released a draft of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), outlining a roadmap to encourage ethical and responsible AI deployment.

Although comprehensive regulation is still in progress, AI developers and users must comply with existing legislation, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) of 2023 and the Copyright Act.

These laws provide a foundational framework for privacy, data protection, and intellectual property – critical issues in the AI space.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which oversees the telecommunications sector, is also expected to play a role in shaping the future regulatory environment.

Boosting local language inclusion

In addition to fact-checking and journalism, AI is also being used to promote linguistic inclusivity in Nigeria.

Dataphyte’s tech startup, Goloka Analytics, is working in partnership with Meta to enhance the representation of Indigenous African languages in AI-driven tools such as speech recognition and machine translation systems.

“Our goal is to strengthen the presence of local Nigerian languages in digital systems,” said Goloka founder Joshua Olufemi.

“By applying our hyperlocal data collection model, we intend to provide high-quality linguistic datasets that help build more accurate and inclusive technologies … We are focused on collecting data that reflects local realities and promotes fair representation for communities that have long been underrepresented in digital technologies.”

Oluseyi Olufemi, development research lead at Dataphyte, added that this effort aligns with three core themes: language, learning, and localization.

“When Meta initiated this partnership, we had already begun work to collect language data across the continent. It made sense to join forces,” he said.

“We are currently collaborating with universities and language technologists in Nigeria to gather authentic, community-validated data. The language datasets generated through this project will be integrated into broader AI systems, supporting equitable and relevant use across sectors.”